Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Feline Tooth Resorption Welfare

Feline tooth resorption is extremely common and causes significant chronic oral pain that is frequently unrecognised by owners.

Key Facts

Tooth resorption affects approximately 30-70% of cats over 5 years
The condition involves progressive erosion of tooth structure by osteoclast-like cells
Affected teeth cause pain particularly when eating and during oral examination
Extraction of affected teeth is the definitive treatment
Most cats show immediate improvement in behaviour and demeanour after extraction

Welfare Considerations

Tooth resorption causes chronic oral pain that many cats endure silently for years. Owners rarely recognise the condition and affected cats often continue eating despite pain. The dramatic behavioural improvement seen after extraction of resorptive lesions reveals the extent of suffering that was previously unrecognised. Regular dental radiography at veterinary check-ups is essential to detect this condition.

What You Can Do

Request dental radiographs at annual veterinary check-ups for cats over 5 years
Do not delay extraction of teeth with active resorptive lesions
Learn to recognise subtle behavioural signs of oral pain in cats